News: Nottingham College students win Young Creative Awards 2024

This year’s Young Creative Awards recognised nineteen of our students from a variety of creative courses with four of our students winning their categories!

The students’ creative work spanned 7 out of the 10 categories, with a total of 16 students shortlisted in Creative Writing, Dance, Visual Arts, and Film. Our winners’ categories were across Design & Architecture, Fashion & Textiles, Photography and Film!

Among the winners was Alyssa Meadows, for the 16 – 18 age range of the Design & Architecture category. Alyssa submitted a ceramic set which included a teapot and mugs with an octopus theme.

The judges found her set ​“witty and well-executed” and felt they ​“showed a sound understanding of ceramic techniques”.

Another winner, who had entered the 16 – 18 age group of the Fashion & Textiles category, was Isobell Shephard. Isobell’s work was inspired by family and they’re involvement in rally driving. She upcycled her granddads jacket which was presented alongside her portfolio pages. 

The judges said ​“the portfolio pages were consistent in quality and content” while her garment ​“demonstrated a contemporary aesthetic” with ​“well executed technical elements”.

We had the chance to speak to Isobell before the awards show about her entry into the Young Creative Awards, She said:

For the 16 – 18 age group of the Film category, another of our students, Kristian Smith was announced as a winner. Kristian created a video installation, titled ​“The Mask” which was inspired by the idea of autism masking, he said he ​“wanted to portray the pain people feel to have to mask”. The Mask is a video which conveyed a powerful message with elements of horror throughout. 

The judges were impressed by the film entry and noted ​“the great use of colour, sound and special effects”, they felt it was of a ​“high quality throughout” and are excited to see what Kristian will do next!

We spoke to Kristian about the experience and how it felt to win. He said: 

Sam Williams won the 16 – 18 age group of the Photography category with his work. Sam took images featuring streaks of light and ghost like images of people around the subject to convey the increasing excitement, bustle and busy feel of the city over the course of an evening out. 

Judges were impressed by his entry due to the skill that went into the images. They said ​“using deliberate movements during the exposure takes a lot of forethought and practice to do”.

Our full list of shortlisted nominees: 

Design & Architecture

Alyssa Meadows (winner)

Jasmine Walton

Creative Writing

Lily Horsfall

Lisa McArthur

Dance

Anastasia Roccioletti

Fashion & Textiles

Marla Harker-Gill

Emma Robertson

Ruby Stetton-Clarke

Izzy Shepard (winner)

Eamon Samandari

Visual Arts

Tilly Jones

Violet Wood

Photography

Sam Williams (winner)

Kathleen Kirwan

Alex Meakin

Harvey Tomlinson

Narin Ashari

Film

Kristian Smith (winner)

Matt Gleave

We also spoke with a few of our shortlisted students. Alex Meakin captured photography to promote men’s mental health, inspired by her fathers own experiences. Her image featured her father under lighting which delicately highlighted his shoulders to reflect the concept of men being told to ​“man up”. Alex said:

Another student who was shortlisted was Marla Harker-Gill, she created a floral garment that played with structure and printing. The garment was displayed at the event tonight alongside a photography piece of the piece being modelled. Marla said:

Congratulations to all our shortlisted and winning students. Awards and competitions such as these present a fantastic opportunity to display the creativity, passion, and talent of our students not only to their friends and family but also to the wider community in Nottingham.